Mali v Senegal: Line-ups, stats and preview
Match Preview for Mali v Senegal
Mali’s head coach, Tom Saintfiet, has no plans to alter his cautious strategy ahead of their quarter-final clash with Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations tomorrow.
Despite not securing a victory yet in Morocco, Saintfiet’s team has made it to the last eight.
Three draws in the group phase were followed by a hard-fought penalty shoot-out win against Tunisia on Saturday. They achieved this after battling for 64 minutes in normal time, followed by an additional 30 minutes, with only 10 players after defender Woyo Coulibaly was sent off.
Facing Senegal presents yet another daunting challenge, and Les Aigles will stick to the tactics that have brought them this far.
Saintfiet commented today: “Our goal-scoring chances have been limited, but we’ve played with commitment and will maintain our current tactical approach. Our players possess great talent and a strong mindset.”
Senegal has found the net 10 times across their four matches, and Saintfiet recognizes his squad is up against the tournament’s toughest opponent, stating: “All eight teams that made it to the quarters are major football nations in Africa, but I believe they are performing the best.
“The only team to have beaten them in recent years was Brazil; they even triumphed over England. They have a solid, powerful team that finds scoring easy, concedes little, and proves quite dangerous.
“However, we are also a competitive team. We remain unbeaten in this tournament and have performed well against Morocco and Tunisia, who each qualified for the World Cup.”
Senegal boasts significant talent with a forward trio featuring Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, and Nicolas Jackson, but coach Pape Thiaw introduced another budding star in the Round of 16 victory against Sudan, 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye.
The Paris Saint-Germain prospect came on with 16 minutes left and scored the final goal in a 3-1 win. This performance is part of a series of impressive displays that have garnered praise from Thiaw, who remarked: “Having a young talent like Ibrahim, who’s already collecting titles at the age of 17, is a fantastic opportunity.
“He’s a treasure, and it’s crucial we support his development. We recognize his potential contribution to the squad, and we will do everything necessary to help him flourish and perform at his peak.”
Team News for Mali v Senegal
Woyo Coulibaly will miss out due to suspension, and Lassana Coulibaly is dealing with an injury, making it unlikely for him to participate.
Senegal’s captain, Kalidou Koulibaly, is back from his suspension and will be reinstated in the starting lineup. Thiaw faces a decision among Sarr, Mbaye, and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye for the forward position.
Predicted line-ups for Mali v Senegal
Mali: Diarra; Dante, Camara, Diaby, Traore; Dieng, Bissouma; Sissoko, Doumbia, Sangare; Sinayoko
Senegal: Mendy; Jakobs, Niakhate, Koulibaly, Diatta; P. Gueye, I. Gueye, Diarra; Mane, Jackson, Sarr
How to watch Mali v Senegal: TV and online streams
The match kicks off on Friday at 4pm UK time. In the UK, live coverage of AFCON 2025 is available on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4, and their YouTube channel. For viewers in the USA, beIN Sports serves as the tournament’s broadcaster.
You can stream the match online on various devices via Channel 4’s website and app, as well as the beIN Sports app.
Stats for Mali v Senegal
Mali and Senegal have clashed 40 times previously. Senegal leads the series with 19 victories compared to Mali’s eight, and 13 matches have ended in draws.
Senegal is unbeaten in their last 13 encounters against Mali, achieving six wins and seven draws.
Mali’s most recent victory over Senegal occurred in a friendly in 1997, where they won 2-1 in Dakar.
We believe this might be the end for Mali. Senegal possesses too much speed and strength, especially in their attacking presence. They are likely to progress.
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Published: 2026-01-08 13:18:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
